Wrappers for smoking articles, methods of making such wrappers and smoking articles made from such wrappers--case V

ABSTRACT

Addition of strong, inorganic acids, such as phosphoric, sulfuric and hydrochloric, to regular, heavy-weight, and reduced sidestream smoke cigarette papers to give improved subjective taste properites, improved subjective sidestream aroma and reduced irritation properties to cigarettes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No.07/514,533, filed Apr. 26, 1990.

Related subject matter is disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No(s).5,065,777 and 5,107,864.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved wrappers for smoking articles, to themethod of making such wrappers and to smoking articles made from suchwrappers.

The purpose of this invention is to impart improved subjective tasteproperties and sidestream aroma properties to cigarettes and othersmoking articles. Smoking article wrappers of this invention have goodappearance and high opacity, which, when fabricated into smokingarticles with suitable tobacco columns and filter systems, staticallyburn at acceptable rates. Inorganic acid addition improves subjectivetaste properties and sidestream aroma properties with regular,heavy-weight, and low sidestream cigarette papers. The acid treatmentcan be used with:

(1) Normal and heavy-weight cigarette papers containing normal burningchemicals and/or thermally stable ash conditioners.

(2) Sidestream smoke reducing cigarette papers containing fillers, suchas magnesium hydroxide and/or activated carbon with or without sugars toimprove ash properties and which also contain normal types of burningchemicals and/or thermally stable ash conditioners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Extensive subjective taste studies have shown the taste characteristicsof smoking articles wrapped in reduced sidestream smoke papers to haveobjectional taste characteristics relative to regular smoking articles.Additional studies have also shown that the pH of the mainstream smokeof tobacco columns wrapped in reduced sidestream smoke cigarette paperis higher than that of the same tobacco columns wrapped in regularcigarette paper. The subjective taste characteristics of cigaretteswrapped in reduced sidestream smoke cigarette paper are similar to thatobtained when the pH of mainstream smoke of regular cigarettes isartificially increased. Prior studies have shown that the subjectivetaste characteristics of the low sidestream cigarettes are significantlyimproved by reducing the pH of the mainstream smoke.

Owens, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 514,533, filed Apr. 26, 1990, ofwhich this application is a continuation-in-part, reveals the use oforganic acids selected from the group of citric, malic, lactic,glycolic, tartaric, fumaric, maleic, malonic, glutaric, adipic, andsuccinic for treatment of reduced sidestream smoke cigarette papers, togive desirable subjective taste properties approaching that obtainedwith cigarettes wrapped with regular cigarette paper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that certain strong inorganic acids, such asphosphoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric, can be used to treat regular,heavy-weight, and reduced sidestream smoke cigarette papers to giveimproved subjective taste properties. Such inorganic acid treatment alsogives improved subjective sidestream aroma and imparts reducedirritation properties to the smoke. This acid treatment can best beapplied in combination with normal type cigarette paper burningchemicals as a size press addition to the base sheet; however, othermethods of application can be used, such as printing the acid on thepaper.

    ______________________________________                                        PARAMETERS OF THE INVENTION                                                   (% of base weight of paper)                                                   ______________________________________                                        Carbon Content:   0.0% to 60%                                                 Preferred         0.0% to 25%                                                 Magnesium Hydroxide Content:                                                                    0.0% to 35%                                                 Preferred         0.0% to 25%                                                 Calcium Carbonate Content:                                                                      0.0% to 40%                                                 Preferred         0.0% to 30%                                                 Basis Weight:     15 g/m.sup.2 to 100 g/m.sup.2                               Preferred         20 g/m.sup.2 to 65 g/m.sup.2                                Inherent Porosity:                                                                              1 to 100 Coresta                                            Preferred         5 to 75 Coresta                                             Burning Chemical: alkali metal salts of                                                         organic and inorganic acids                                                   selected from the group                                                       consisting of citric, malic,                                                  lactic, glycolic, tartaric,                                                   fumaric, maleic, malonic,                                                     glutaric, adipic, acetic,                                                     succinic, phosphoric,                                                         hydrochloric, and sulfuric                                  Burning Chemical Content:                                                                       0.5 to 90.0 (mg alkali metal                                Preferred:        2.0 to 50.0  per gram of                                                      base paper)                                                 Acid Concentration                                                            of Burning Chemical Solution:                                                                   0.01 to 2.0 molar                                           Preferred:        0.02 to 1.0 molar                                           ______________________________________                                    

This invention can be utilized with acid and flavor-treated carbon andsugar addition to the base paper. Also, this invention is effective withother reduced sidestream smoke cigarette papers with fillers, such asbasic magnesium corbonate.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                        EFFECT OF BURNING CHEMICAL/ACID CONTENT                                       OF BURNING CHEMICAL SOLUTION                                                  ON SUBJECTIVE TASTE AND AROMA                                                 REGULAR CIGARETTE PAPER - BRAND A                                             Cigarette Paper: 25 g/m.sup.2, 30% calcium carbonate, regular                 Burning chemical type: as indicated                                           Burning chemical solution pick-up:                                            80% of dry weight of base sheet                                               Tobacco column: commercial lights 100's (Brand A)                             Acid concentrations: sulfuric 96.5%, hydrochloric 37.25%                      Acid  Acid Conc.                                                                              Burning                                                       Type  (Molarity)                                                                              Chemical Taste      Aroma                                     ______________________________________                                        --    0         3% K.sub.3                                                                             slightly harsh/                                                                          harsh, eye/                                               Citrate  bitter, slight                                                                           nasal                                                              mouth coating/                                                                           irritation                                                         aftertaste                                           HCl   0.063     3% K.sub.3                                                                             milder, no bitter-                                                                       slightly re-                                              Citrate  ness, no mouth                                                                           duced eye/                                                         coating/aftertaste                                                                       nasal                                                                         irritation                                HCl   0.50      3% K.sub.3                                                                             mild, smooth, no                                                                         mild, reduced                                             Citrate  bitterness, no                                                                           eye/nasal                                                          mouth coating/                                                                           irritation                                                         aftertaste                                           HCl   0.50      3% KCl   mild, smooth, no                                                                         mild, reduced                                                      bitterness, no                                                                           eye/nasal                                                          mouth coating/                                                                           irritation                                                         aftertaste                                           HCl   0.61      none     very mild, extremely                                                          smooth, reduced                                                                          mild, greatly                                                      tobacco taste, no                                                                        reduced eye/                                                       mouth coating/                                                                           nasal                                                              aftertaste irritation                                H.sub.2 SO.sub.4                                                                    0.12      3% K.sub.3                                                                             very mild, mild, reduced                                             Citrate  smooth, no bitter-                                                                       eye/nasal                                                          ness, no mouth                                                                           irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste                                   H.sub.2 SO.sub.4                                                                    0.12      3% KCl   very mild, mild, reduced                                                      smooth, no bitter-                                                                       eye/nasal                                                          ness, no mouth                                                                           irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste                                   H.sub.2 SO.sub.4                                                                    0.12      none     very mild, mild, reduced                                                      smooth, no bitter-                                                                       eye/nasal                                                          ness, no mouth                                                                           irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste,                                                           sweet note                                           HCl   0.50      none     very mild, mild, reduced                                                      smooth, no bitter-                                                                       eye/nasal                                                          ness, no mouth                                                                           irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste                                   Malic 0.15      none     mild, smooth,                                                                            mild, reduced                                                      slightly bitter, no                                                                      eye/nasal                                                          mouth coating/                                                                           irritation                                                         aftertaste,                                                                   slightly dirty                                       Citric                                                                              0.14      none     mild, smooth,                                                                            mild, reduced                                                      slightly bitter, no                                                                      eye/nasal                                                          mouth coating/                                                                           irritation                                                         aftertaste,                                                                   slightly dirty                                       ______________________________________                                    

The above Table I shows that the taste and aroma characteristics of thecigarette are dependent primarily on the total level of acid treatmentof the paper and are not significantly impacted by the type nor level ofburning chemical or ash conditioner applied to the paper.

                  TABLE II                                                        ______________________________________                                        EFFECT OF BURNING CHEMICAL AND ACID                                           CONTENT OF BURNING CHEMICAL SOLUTION                                          ON SUBJECTIVE TASTE AND AROMA                                                 REDUCED SIDESTREAM SMOKE CIGARETTE                                            PAPER - BRAND A                                                               Cigarette paper: 45 g/m.sup.2, 10% magnesium hydroxide,                       30% calcium carbonate, reduced sidestream                                     Burning chemical type: as indicated                                           Burning chemical solution pick-up:                                            80% of dry weight of base sheet                                               Tobacco column: commercial lights 100's (Brand A)                             Acid Concentrations: sulfuric 96.5%, hydrochloric 37.25%                      Acid  Acid Conc.                                                                              Burning                                                       Type  (Molarity)                                                                              Chemical Taste      Aroma                                     ______________________________________                                        --    0         6.5% K.sub.3                                                                           harsh, bitter,                                                                           harsh, cigar-                                             Citrate  peppery, mouth                                                                           type, strong                                                       coating/aftertaste                                                                       eye/nasal                                                                     irritation                                --    0         none     slightly harsh,                                                                          milder, re-                                                        slightly bitter,                                                                         duced eye/                                                         slightly peppery,                                                                        nasal                                                              slight mouth                                                                             irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste                                   Malic 0.15      none     mild, no bitter-                                                                         mild, reduced                                                      ness, not peppery,                                                                       eye/nasal                                                          no mouth   irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste                                   Citric                                                                              0.14      none     mild, slightly                                                                           mild, reduced                                                      bitter, not pep-                                                                         eye/nasal                                                          pery, no mouth                                                                           irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste                                   HCl   0.50      3% K.sub.3                                                                             mild, smooth, no                                                                         mild, reduced                                             Citrate  bitterness, slightly                                                                     eye/nasal                                                          dirty, no mouth                                                                          irritation                                                         coating/aftertaste                                   HCl   0.61      none     very mild, smooth                                                                        extremely                                                          reduced tobacco                                                                          mild, greatly                                                      taste, no mouth                                                                          reduced eye/                                                       coating/aftertaste                                                                       nasal                                                                         irritation                                H.sub.2 SO.sub.4                                                                    0.12      none     very mild, extremely                                                          smooth, no bitter-                                                                       mild, greatly                                                      ness, no mouth                                                                           reduced                                                            coating/aftertaste,                                                                      eye/nasal                                                          sweet note irritation                                ______________________________________                                    

The above Table II shows the same trends for heavy-weight, reducedsidestream cigarette paper taste and aroma characteristics that werefound in Table I for regular cigarette paper. Again, these taste andaroma characteristics of the cigarette are dependent primarily on thetotal level of acid treatment of the paper and are not significantlyimpacted by the type nor level of burning chemical or ash conditionerapplied to the paper. Indications are that combustible burningchemicals, such as potassium citrate, can also induce negative tastefactors, especially at higher levels of treatment.

                  TABLE III                                                       ______________________________________                                        EFFECT OF BURNING CHEMICAL CONTENT AND                                        ACID CONTENT ON SUBJECTIVE TASTE AND AROMA                                    REDUCED SIDESTREAM SMOKE CIGARETTE                                            PAPER - BRAND A                                                               Cigarette paper: 45 gm/m.sup.2, 10% magnesium hydroxide,                      30% calcium carbonate, reduced sidestream                                     Burning chemical type: tri potassium citrate mono hydrate                     Acid: Phosphoric                                                              Tobacco column: commercial lights 100's (Brand A)                             Burning                                                                       Chemical                                                                      (mg/gm                                                                        of base                                                                              Acid Conc.                                                             paper) (Molarity)                                                                              Taste         Aroma                                          ______________________________________                                         0%    0         harsh, bitter, mouth                                                                        harsh, cigar-like,                                              coating/aftertaste                                                                          eye/nasal irritation                           3      0.014     reduced harshness,                                                                          reduced irritancy,                                              slightly bitter,                                                                            slightly reduced                                                reduced mouth eye/nasal irritation                                            coating/aftertaste                                           6      0.045     mild, slightly bitter,                                                                      mild, low irritation,                                           good tobacco taste,                                                                         reduced eye/nasal                                               slight mouth  burn                                                            coating/aftertaste                                           9      0.099     very mild, no bitter                                                                        very mild, cigarette-                                           taste, good tobacco                                                                         like, low irritation,                                           taste, smooth reduced eye/nasal                                                             burn                                           12*    0.12      very mild, smooth,                                                                          very mild, low irri-                                            good tobacco taste,                                                                         tation reduced eye/                                             no mouth coating/                                                                           nasal burn                                                      aftertaste                                                   14*    0.15      very mild, smooth,                                                                          mild, low irritation,                                           good tobacco taste,                                                                         reduced eye/nasal                                               no mouth coating/                                                                           burn                                                            aftertaste                                                   19     0.19      mild, slightly bitter,                                                                      mild, low irritation,                                           reduced tobacco                                                                             reduced eye/nasal                                               taste         burn                                           ______________________________________                                         *Considered to have best overall taste and aroma characteristics.        

Additional studies reported in this application show that the taste andaroma improvements are primarily a function of acid content with highlevels of burning chemical contributing to off-taste characteristics,generally described as bitter. The above results show that, for thisspecific reduced sidestream cigarette paper, burning chemical levels inthe range of 19 mg/gm of base paper contribute to a bitter taste whichis characteristic of high-burning chemical levels.

                  TABLE IV                                                        ______________________________________                                        EFFECT OF BURNING CHEMICAL CONTENT AND                                        ACID CONTENT ON SUBJECTIVE TASTE AND AROMA                                    REGULAR CIGARETTE PAPER - BRAND A                                             Cigarette paper: 25 g/m.sup.2, 30% calcium carbonate, regular                 Burning chemical type: tri potassium citrate mono hydrate                     Acid: Phosphoric                                                              Tobacco column: commercial lights 100's (Brand A)                             Potassium                                                                     Citrate                                                                       (mg/gm of                                                                             Acid Conc.                                                            base paper)                                                                           (Molarity)                                                                              Taste         Aroma                                         ______________________________________                                         0%     0         bitter, mild nasal                                                                          harsh, eye/nasal                              (control)         irritation, dry mouth                                                                       irritation                                                      coating/aftertaste                                          3       0.014     slightly milder/bit-                                                                        harsh, eye/nasal                                                ter dry aftertaste                                                                          irritation                                    6       0.045     mild, no bitter after-                                                                      mild, reduced                                                   taste, low nasal                                                                            eye/nasal                                                       irritation    irritation                                     9*     0.099     mild, smooth, no                                                                            very mild, greatly                                              bitterness, slightly                                                                        reduced eye/nasal                                               sweet, good tobacco                                                                         irritation                                                      taste                                                       12      0.12      very mild, no bitter-                                                                       very mild, re-                                                  ness, very smooth,                                                                          duced eye/nasal                                                 reduced tobacco                                                                             irritation, re-                                                 taste         duced tobacco                                                                 aroma                                         14      0.15      slightly bitter, mild,                                                                      very mild, greatly                                              very smooth, great-                                                                         reduced tobacco                                                 ly reduced taste                                                                            aroma                                         19      0.19      slightly bitter, mild,                                                                      slightly irritating/                                            smooth, greatly re-                                                                         harsh, greatly                                                  duced tobacco taste                                                                         reduced tobacco                                                               aroma                                         0       1.02      very mild, no bitter-                                                                       very mild, re-                                                  ness, smooth, re-                                                                           duced eye/nasal                                                 duced tobacco taste                                                                         irritation                                    0       2.04      mild, slightly dry,                                                                         mild, less irritat-                                             slight mouth  ing reduced eye/                                                coating/aftertaste,                                                                         nasal irritation                                                no bitterness                                               ______________________________________                                         *Considered to have best overall taste and aroma characeristics.         

Additional studies reported in this application show that the taste andaroma improvements are primarily a function of acid content with highlevels of burning chemical contributing to off-taste characteristics,generally described as bitter. The above results show that, for regularcigarette paper, burning chemical concentrations above 14 mg/gm of basepaper contribute to a bitter taste characteristic. AT an acid treatmentconcentration in the range of 2 molar, negative taste characteristicswere observed.

                  TABLE V                                                         ______________________________________                                        EFFECT OF BURNING CHEMICAL CONTENT AND                                        ACID CONTENT ON SUBJECTIVE TASTE AND AROMA                                    HEAVY-WEIGHT CIGARETTE PAPER - BRAND A                                        Cigarette paper: 45 gm/m.sup.2, 28% calcium carbonate, heavy-weight           Burning chemical type: tri potassium citrate mono hydrate                     Acid: phoshoric                                                               Tobacco column: commercial lights 100's (Brand A)                             Burning                                                                       Chemical                                                                      (mg/gm                                                                        of base                                                                              Acid Conc.                                                             paper) (Molarity)                                                                              Taste         Aroma                                          ______________________________________                                        3      0         peppery, harsh,                                                                             harsh, irritating,                             (control)        good tobacco taste                                                                          cigar-like                                     3      0.014     peppery, slightly                                                                           slightly irritating,                                            harsh, good tobacco                                                                         burning paper note                                              taste                                                        6      0.045     peppery, woody,                                                                             slightly irritating,                                            slightly harsh, re-                                                                         burning paper note                                              duced tobacco taste                                          9      0.099     peppery, mild,                                                                              slightly irritating,                                            papery, reduced                                                                             burning paper note                                              tobacco taste                                                12     0.12      peppery, papery, re-                                                                        slightly irritating,                                            duced tobacco taste                                                                         burning paper note,                                                           reduced tobacco                                                               aroma                                          14     0.15      peppery, slightly                                                                           slightly irritating,                                            harsh, greatly re-                                                                          burning paper note,                                             duced tobacco taste                                                                         greatly reduced                                                               tobacco aroma                                  19     0.19      smooth, greatly re-                                                                         very mild, greatly                                              duced tobacco taste,                                                                        reduced tobacco                                                 mild          aroma                                           9*    0.28      smooth, mild, good                                                                          reduced irritation,                                             tobacco taste normal cigarette                                                              aroma                                           9*    0.41      very mild, smooth,                                                                          greatly reduced                                                 good tobacco taste                                                                          irritation, normal                                                            cigarette aroma                                9      0.73      extremely mild, re-                                                                         greatly reduced                                                 duced tobacco taste                                                                         irritation, reduced                                                           cigarette aroma                                ______________________________________                                         *Considered to have best overall taste and aroma characteristics.        

The above results recorded in Table V demonstrate, for certain types ofpaper, a higher acid content burning chemical solution is required togive improved taste and aroma characteristics similar to that obtainedfrom tests delineated in Tables III and IV.

                  TABLE VI                                                        ______________________________________                                        COMPARATIVE TASTE/AROMA CHARACTERISTICS                                       USING SULFURIC, HYDROCHLORIC AND                                              PHOSPHORIC ACIDS                                                              REGULAR CIGARETTE PAPER - BRAND A                                             Cigarette paper: 25 gm/m.sup.2, 30% calcium carbonate, regular                Burning chemical type: tri potassium citrate mono hydrate                     Tobacco column: commercial lights 100's (Brand A)                             Burning                                                                       Chemical                                                                      (mg/gm                                                                        of base                                                                              Acid     Acid Conc.                                                    paper) Type     (Molarity)                                                                              Taste     Aroma                                     ______________________________________                                        3      None     0         slightly bitter/                                                                        harsh, irritat                                                      metallic/slight                                                                         ing, nasal/eye                                                      mouth coating                                                                           burn                                                                aftertaste                                          3      Sulfuric 0.013     milder, less                                                                            milder, less                                                        bitter, less                                                                            irritating                                                          aftertaste/                                                                   mouth coating                                        9*    Sulfuric 0.023     much milder,                                                                            much milder,                                                        smoother, no                                                                            less irritating                                                     bitterness,                                                                   slightly sweet,                                                               no aftertaste                                       19     Sulfuric 0.087     slightly bitter,                                                                        much milder,                                                        slightly harsh,                                                                         less irritating                                                     slight mouth                                                                  coating/                                                                      aftertaste                                           3*    Hydro-   0.027     very mild,                                                                              milder, less                                     chloric            smooth, no                                                                              irritating                                                          mouth coating/                                                                aftertaste                                           9*    Hydro-   0.063     extremely mild,                                                                         extrexmely                                       chloric            very smooth, no                                                                         mild, minimal                                                       bitterness, no                                                                          irritation                                                          mouth coating/                                                                aftertaste                                          19     Hydro-   0.14      very mild,                                                                              increased                                        chloric            smooth, slightly                                                                        harshness,                                                          bitter, slight                                                                          increased                                                           aftertaste                                                                              eye/nasal                                                                     irritation                                3      Phos-    0.014     mild, smooth,                                                                           milder, less                                     phoric             no mouth coat-                                                                          irritating                                                          ing/aftertaste                                       9*    Phos-    0.099     very mild,                                                                              very mild,                                       phoric             smooth, no                                                                              minimal eye/                                                        mouth coating/                                                                          nasal                                                               aftertaste                                                                              irritation                                19     Phos-    0.19      very mild,                                                                              mild, less                                       phoric             smooth, slightly                                                                        irritating                                                          bitter, no mouth                                                              coating/                                                                      aftertaste                                          ______________________________________                                         *Considered to have best overall taste and aroma characteristics.        

Similar taste properties are observed with sulfuric, hydrochloric andphosphoric acids. Optimum taste/aroma properties were noted when thealkali metal burning chemical content was in the range of 3 to 9 mg/gmof base paper and acid concentration was in the range of 0.27 to 0.63molar.

                  TABLE VII                                                       ______________________________________                                        EFFECT OF BURNING CHEMICAL AND ACID                                           CONTENT ON SUBJECTIVE TASTE AND AROMA                                         REGULAR CIGARETTE PAPER - BRAND B                                             Cigarette paper: 25 gm/m.sup.2, 30% calcium carbonate, regular                Burning chemical type: tri potassium citrate mono hydrate                     Tobacco column: commercial lights 100's (Brand B)                             Acid: Hydrochloric                                                            Burning                                                                       Chemical                                                                      (mg/gm                                                                        of base                                                                              Acid Conc.                                                             paper) (Molarity)                                                                              Taste         Aroma                                          ______________________________________                                        3      0.0       mild, smooth, slight-                                                                       harsh, irritating,                             (control)        ly bitter, slight                                                                           eye/nasal sting                                                 metallic, slight                                                              aftertaste, no mouth                                                          coating                                                      3      0.27      mild, smooth, slight-                                                                       reduced irritation                                              ly bitter, slightly                                                                         milder                                                          metallic, slight                                                              aftertaste, no mouth                                                          coating                                                      9      0.063     mild, smooth, more                                                                          reduced irritation                                              bitter, slightly me-                                                                        reduced eye/nasal                                               tallic, slight after-                                                                       sting                                                           taste, no mouth                                                               coating                                                      19     0.14      slightly harsher,                                                                           harsh, irritating,                                              bitter, slightly                                                                            eye/nasal sting                                                 metallic, slight                                                              aftertaste                                                    3*    0.19      very mild, smooth,                                                                          very mild, less                                                 no bitterness, no                                                                           irritating,                                                     mouth coating/                                                                              reduced eye/nasal                                               aftertaste    sting                                           3*    0.50      extremely mild,                                                                             extremely mild,                                                 smooth, no bitter-                                                                          much less                                                       ness, no mouth                                                                              irritation                                                      coating/aftertaste                                           3      0.58      extremely mild,                                                                             very mild, much                                                 smooth, reduced                                                                             less irritating                                                 tobacco taste, no                                                             mouth coating/                                                                aftertaste                                                   ______________________________________                                         *Considered to have best overall taste and aroma characteristics.        

The above table shows, in comparison to Table VI, that different tobaccocolumns may require different levels of burning chemical and acidaddition to achieve optimum taste and aroma characteristics.

                  TABLE VIII                                                      ______________________________________                                        EFFECT OF BURNING CHEMICAL AND ACID                                           CONTENT ON SUBJECTIVE TASTE AND AROMA                                         REGULAR CIGARETTE PAPER - BRAND C                                             Cigarette paper: 25 gm/m.sup.2, 30% calcium carbonate, regular                Burning chemical type: tri potassium citrate mono hydrate                     Tobacco column: commercial unfiltered king size -                             85 mm (Brand C)                                                               Acid: Hydrochloric                                                            Burning                                                                       Chemical                                                                      (mg/gm                                                                        of base                                                                              Acid Conc.                                                             paper) (Molarity)                                                                              Taste         Aroma                                          ______________________________________                                        3      0         very bitter, harsh,                                                                         very harsh, irritat-                           (control)        mouth coating/after-                                                                        ing, eye/nasal burn                                             taste, hot/peppery                                           3      0.027     bitter, harsh, slight-                                                                      milder than control,                                            ly milder than con-                                                                         but still very                                                  trol, mouth coating/                                                                        irritating to eyes                                              aftertaste    and nose                                       9      0.063     similar to control,                                                                         mild, less irritating                                           bitter aftertaste/                                                                          than control                                                    mouth coating,                                                                peppery                                                      19     0.14      bitter, harsh, mouth                                                                        mild, less irritating                                           coating/aftertaste                                            9*    0.19      very mild, smooth,                                                                          mild, much less                                                 good tobacco taste,                                                                         irritating                                                      no bitterness, no                                                             mouth coating/                                                                aftertaste                                                    9*    0.50      very mild, smooth,                                                                          very mild, less                                                 good tobacco taste,                                                                         irritating to eyes                                              no bitterness, no                                                                           and nose                                                        mouth coating/                                                                after taste                                                  9      0.58      very mild, reduced                                                                          extremely mild, less                                            tobacco taste, no                                                                           irritating to eyes                                              bitterness, no after-                                                                       and nose                                                        taste/mouth coating                                          ______________________________________                                         *Considered to have best overall taste and aroma characteristics.        

The above table shows, in comparison to Table VI, that different tobaccocolumns may require different levels of burning chemical and acidaddition to achieve optimum taste and aroma characteristics.

I claim:
 1. A wrapper for smoking articles, comprising a cellulosicsheet, inorganic filler in said sheet and a strong inorganic acid coatedon at least the inner surface of the sheet.
 2. The wrapper, as definedin claim 1, wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting ofphosphoric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acid.
 3. The wrapper, as definedin claim 2, wherein the acid is applied at the size press with a burningchemical solution.
 4. The wrapper, as defined in claim 3, wherein theacid concentration of the burning chemical solution is in the range of0.01 to 2.0 molar.
 5. The method, as defined in claim 1, furtherincluding adjusting the said solution to contain an acid concentrationin the range of 0.01 to 2.0 molar.
 6. A smoking article comprising atobacco charge and a wrapper for the tobacco charge, said wrappercomprising a cellulosic sheet, inorganic fillers in said sheet and astrong, inorganic acid coated on at least the inner surface of thesheet.
 7. The smoking article, as defined in claim 6, wherein the acidis selected from the group consisting of phosphoric, sulfuric andhydrochloric acid.
 8. The smoking article, as defined in claim 7,wherein the acid is applied at the size press in a burning chemicalsolution.
 9. The smoking article, as defined in claim 8, wherein thewrapper is treated with a burning chemical solution which contains anacid in the concentration range of 0.01 to 2.0 molar.
 10. A method ofimproving the taste characteristics of smoking articles, the steps:forming a cellulosic sheet having inorganic fillers therein and coatinga strong inorganic acid on at least the inner surface of the sheet, andwrapping the coated sheet about a tobacco column.
 11. The method, asdefined claim 10, wherein the inorganic acid is selected from the groupconsisting of phosphoric, sulfuric and hydrochloric acid.
 12. Themethod, as defined in claim 11, adding the acid at the size press with aburning chemical solution.